\ Haven:Mist and Shadow Plotlogs/An Eye For Art Sr Elias 241005
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An Eye For Art Sr Elias 241005

In the worn-down streets of Dandelion Parkway, an unexpected hero emerges from the shadows. Cherie, a motherly figure whose instinct to protect ignites her courage, finds herself in the midst of a dire situation. On an afternoon draped in thin white clouds, she happens upon an alarming scene: a young girl, bound and gagged, at the mercy of a cult conducting a terrifying ritual on a decrepit altar. Their intention, as twisted as it is horrifying, is to use the girl’s blood to sever links to other worlds, supposedly saving them from a prophesied destruction of Earth.

Spotting a sapphire jewel central to the cultists’ ritual, Cherie grasps at a desperate plan. With determination fueling her shaky arms, she threatens to smash the precious jewel with a boulder, leveraging its value against the girl's life. The cultist, attempting to justify their heinous action with a prophecy, faces Cherie's wrathful condemnation. She boldly claims to have already alerted the police, a bluff designed to buy time and negotiate the girl's release.

Despite the tension prickling the air, Cherie’s bluff and unwavering stance force the cultist’s hand. With a begrudging agreement, they allow her to take the girl, warning of the enmity she has now drawn upon herself. Carefully cutting the ropes that bind the girl, Cherie’s immediate compassion breaks through the girl's fear. Propelled by a mix of relief and urgency, Cherie prompts the girl to run with her, fleeing from the threat that lurks in the shadows of the failing light.

The departure is tense, the cultists’ anger palpable as they disappear, leaving Cherie and the girl to make their escape. The girl, overwhelmed by emotions and gratitude, thanks Cherie, who, despite the immediate danger passing, worries about the repercussions of her actions. Yet, in that moment, her priority remains the well-being of the girl she has just saved.

Returning the girl to safety, Cherie allows herself a fleeting thought of respite, considering a simple pleasure like enjoying a cup of coffee. But the coffee is more than a drink; it symbolizes a moment of peace, a brief celebration of a good deed accomplished under extraordinary circumstances. As she guides the girl home, Cherie embodies the essence of unexpected heroism, driven by the powerful instinct to protect and the courage to act in the face of danger. With the ordeal behind them, she considers rewarding herself with a meal from the Diner, a mundane pleasure tinged with the satisfaction of having done the right thing, despite the unknown cost of the enmities forged on this fateful day.
(An Eye for art(SRElias):SRElias)

[Fri Oct 4 2024]

On Dandelion Parkway
Cracked and pothole-ridden asphalt roads make up this part of town,
bordered on either side by poorly maintained cracked sidewalks. The
aluminum streetlights are painted a deep, chipped green and appear regularly
along the side, illuminating the street in spots of warm electric light when
it's dark. Where the street is widest small median islands appear with old
twisted trees planted in them. The buildings that line the street seem old
and poorly taken care of.

It is afternoon, about 66F(18C) degrees, and the sky is covered by thin white clouds.

Cherie goes wide-eyed as that jewel doesn't move. She's spotted. She doesn't have the key. She can't break the chains. And she isn't strong enough to handle a group of people with knives. Her eyes dart. They'll be here quickly, so she needs to act fast. She eyes the altar, and recognizes the color of sapphire, and the many fractured imperfections, in the jewel. A plan is made, and her gaze searches near her feet. She catches sight of what she's looking for, a large rock, a fair bit larger than her head.. Dashing like her life depends on it, she snatches the rock from the forest floor, and runs to stand before the altar. She is hardly a weight lifter, but as she brandishes the boulder over her head, she's hoping the threat of smashing the jewel between the altar it perches on and a rock bigger than her head is threat enough to stall them. "Stop! Or your jewel is going to be in so many pieces you'll spend the next decade searching the forest floor."

She doesn't have to run far as the cultists watch the motherly woman run about to pick up a rock and make it to the altar, threatening to break the sapphire jewel on the altar. A gesture of bravery from Cherie against them. The girl struggles against the ropes that bind her, but she is gagged. One of the cultists sheaths his knife onto his belt, explaining, "You know that the world is prophesied, yes? It can not be stopped, but not everyone has to die. It is Earth that is destine to be destroyed, not all the other worlds, so if we work, we can protect them. We just need to severe the links." The cultist explains, not taking any effort to move closer as he explains this to Cherie, "The girl is needed, ritual we are doing needs a vast amount of blood."

Cherie flares up, the mother's anger overpowering her fear, "She's a child! A slight thing. Even if what you said was true, you picked nearly the most meagre option you could. What, were the local day cares too well-guarded for you selfless guardians? You couldn't recruit some more adults to your cause, and spare a few pints yourselves? How noble of you to skip straight to child murder." He voice is full of venom and condemnation. "...I called the police before I entered the forest. They'll be here shortly." She lies through her teeth, letting her anger be her poker face. "If you approach, I will smash your sapphire. You could kill us, then, but to no benefit to your ritual, or the worlds you claim to protect. If you leave, the police will arrive, and your altar will be seized, or destroyed. Or... or you could give me that key. Let me take the girl. And maybe, just maybe, you can remove any evidence before they get here. So... whats it going to be?" Her heart pounds in her chest, and her arms waver from holding that rock high for so long.

To clarify, the girl is bond with ropes, not chains, so there would have no need of a key. As for the cultists. The cultist studies Cherie's expression for a long moment, as if checking to see if the woman is bluffing but when he decides he can't decide which, "Fine. Take the girl, but we will be watching and you just made an enemy today."

Cherie nods, slowly. She produces a pocket knife to slowly saw through the the ropes, seizing the girl in her arms as she's freed. Her voice is as comforting as she can make it as she hugs the girl to her breast, whispering, "Its okay. Its okay. Listen I know you're scared, but I need you to run with me, alright? We'll run, and you'll be free, and you'll be safe. Just take my hand, and run with me." She takes hold of the girl's hand, squeezes firmly, and lifts her to her feet. Then, heart racing, she flees with the girl.

Cherie cutting the girl loose and releasing her from her gage, she starts crying and hugs onto the motherly woman. The cultists, watch with seething anger, it is obvious they are debating whether they should strike or not, but in the end, the turn and walk away from now. Too close to the trailer park, too close to whatever deputies that may be responding. Whatever the case, they are gone now and the little girl, clings, murmuring through the tears, "Thank you."

Cherie runs her fingers through the girls hair, her voice as soothing as she can make it as her heart threatens to beat out of her chest. "You're welcome, dear. Come on, now. Lets get you home." She sighs, not knowing what sort of enemies she just made. But she did the right thing. And maybe, just maybe, she might get to have that coffee today.

And with guiding the little girl home, Cherie accomplishes her good deed, perhaps. Either way, she has earned the right to reward herself with a nice meal from the Diner.